Description

The Ozark Hills region of southern Illinois is characterized by the severe topography typical of the Ozark Plateau, but is overlain by loess deposits and therefore supports site conditions more typical of mesophytic forests. As is common in lightly disturbed and undisturbed mesic upland sites throughout this region, mature stands in Trail of Tears State Forest are characterized by an oak and hickory-dominated overstory and an under- and mid-story where sugar maple and American beech predominate. Between 1980 and 2000, oak and hickory species generally declined in importance while sugar maple, American beech, and yellow-poplar increased, a trend consistent with those reported in other southern Illinois forests of similar species composition. However, the sugar maple and American beech component at Trail of Tears State Forest are larger and expanding more rapidly than those reported elsewhere within the region. Management options to address these changes are discussed.